# Date: 1918-02-05

The present telegram was sent to L. D. Trotsky in
Brest under the signatures of Lenin and I. V. Stalin
on February 4
1918, i.e., on the day of the rupture of peace negotiations and the publication
by L. D. Trotsky of a declaration rejecting the signing of an annexationist peace treaty
and announcing that the state of war has been terminated.
Judging by the word "Reply" inscribed at the beginning of the telegram
by I. V. Stalin, this telegram was prompted by an inquiry
from L. D. Trotsky from Brest (not found), as to how to respond to the
German ultimatum.
Apparently, Lenin had this telegram in mind when in
his speech at the VII Party Congress he declared: "I proposed quite
definitely to sign peace." (Works, vol. XXVII, p. 333.)
Ed.

* TELEGRAM TO L. D. TROTSKY.

Brest-Litovsk
Russian Peace Delegation.
To Trotsky.

[February 10 (January 28), 1918, 6:30 p.m.*]

Our point of view is known to you; it has only been strengthened
over recent time and especially after the letter from Ioffe*. We
repeat once more that nothing remains of the Kiev Rada and that
the Germans will be forced to acknowledge the fact, if they have not
already done so**.

Lenin

* Letter from A. A. Ioffe has not been found.
Kiev was finally occupied by Soviet forces on February 8,
1918. It apparently had not yet become known to Lenin that on February 9 the
Germans concluded a peace treaty in Brest with "representatives of the Rada."
* Date written by I. V. Stalin; he also wrote "Reply" after the address at the beginning
of the text. Ed.
** Here I. V. Stalin added: "Inform us more frequently." Ed.
After Lenin's signature I. V. Stalin signed: "Stalin." Ed.